The next Forbes netball night competitions will start in late February 2019 and will be played until June. Thank you to everyone who has helped with the running of the competitions and the umpires who have umpired every week so the games can be played. Thank you to Rosa and Haig for coming early each week and putting up the post pads on the courts.

Bingo Fundraiser: The bingo fundraiser was lots of fun and another day will be planned in 2019. Thank you to Rosa Gillogly for helping with the committee to organise the bingo fundraiser for the association. Thank you to everyone who helped with the bingo day and a huge thank you to everyone who donated prizes to make the afternoon a success.

Annual General Meeting 2019: The Annual General Meeting of the Forbes Netball Association will be held on Thursday, 21st February. Open representative team 2019 selections postponed: The first selection for the Open representative team has been postponed and will now be held on Wednesday, 5th December at 7pm.

Merry Christmas: The Forbes Netball Committee would like to wish all members and their families and friends a very merry Christmas.

Representative Netball Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Open Players for 2019 The Forbes Netball Association (FNA) is calling for representative coaches and assistant coaches for 2019. Applications will close at the next monthly meeting which will be held on 15th November.

All applications must be emailed to secretary. forbesnetball@gmail.com and state coaching experience and qualifications, and playing experience.

Representative coaches and assistant coaches being called for 2019 are for the under 17’s and 15 years. As well as for the 12 years, 13 years and 14 years.

Players must be turning the age in 2019 Anyone wanting more information can contact the Coach Convenor, Robyn Kenny.

Open Representative Team

Applications for players to trial for the 2019 FNA Open representative team to compete in the Regional League competition in Orange are now open. Applications will close on 21st November with the first selection trials to be held on 26th November.

Regional League will be played on 10th March and 24th March and finals on 31st March.

Training may commence end of 2018, depending on availability of players. Training will be held on Monday nights.

Bingo Fundraiser

The FNA will be organising a Bingo fundraiser on Sunday, 18th November from 2pm till 4pm.

Donations are needed for prizes and anyone with something to donate should contact the organiser, Rosa Gillogly, or any one of the committee members.

This will be a fun event and all members, friends and families and the Forbes and district community are all invited to attend.

Cost will be $20 for 20 games and the afternoon will be held at the Forbes Services Memorial Club.

Round three of the Spring netball competitions for the mixed and ladies team was played this week.

All teams are reminded to check the draw for umpiring duty, as all teams will be allocated at some stage during the season. Help will be given to new umpires.

Team representatives should inform the committee at the office, if their team will need help when allocated to umpire.

Volunteers are needed to help with timing and canteen duties. Anyone able to spare an hour or more at any time during the night, is very welcome. The committeemembers are all volunteers, and help is needed to run the competitions successfully.

Last week there were players in teams that had not completed their full registration. This is the registration to Forbes Netball and Netball NSW, the $40 competition levy for the first team and $20 for the second team. The competition levy can be paid at the office.

Teams that forfeited because of players not registered are: ladies competition: CWD, Marist and mixed competition: Double Shot, Hot Shots, Tyrepower, Stingers. Players will not be able to take the court if their full registration is not paid.

Anyone needing help with registrations should contact the registrar, Kerrie Priest by email to kerrie.priest@bigpond.com.

The FNA meeting was held this week at the Forbes Services Memorial Club. All teams had to be represented. The format of the night competitions was set at the meeting.

The first round of the Forbes Netball Spring night competitions for both mixed and ladies teams were played on Tuesday night.

There is still time for a team to enter into both competitions to take up the bye teams. All team representatives are asked to please complete the nomination form and update any changes to player details. This can be done at the office.

All registration and competition fees should be paid by this week.

Anyone with enquiries about registrations should contact the registrar, Kerrie Priest.

The next meeting of the Forbes Netball Association will be held on 20th September at 7pm at the Forbes Services Memorial Club. Agenda items must be emailed to secretary. forbesnetball@gmail.com.

All teams must have a representative and will receive two competition bonus points. The format of the night competitions will be on the agenda.

Volunteers are needed to help run the competitions. Anyone who would like to help in any way is asked to please contact the committee on Wednesday. The committee all work full time and volunteer their time after work to run the competitions.

The Forbes Netball committee is requesting nominations for the end of season awards, which will be presented at the annual presentation on Saturday, 25th August after the grand finals are played.

The nomination forms for the Chris Read Memorial award are available at the office on Saturday. The award will be presented to a person who has helped the committee during the season, where ever and when ever volunteering was needed. Anyone may nominate a person they think has helped out in any area, with the winner to be announced at the presentation.

Every team in Division 2 and 3 will have a nominated player for the Edna Jenkin Memorial Junior Encouragement Award, who has shown outstanding sportsmanship, co-operation and enthusiasm throughout the season.

Nomination forms are available from the office and thank you to all the coaches and parents who have already nominated their players.

Orange Gala Day: The Orange Netball Association will be organising a Gala Day on 12th August. It is hoped that Forbes players will be available to participate and enjoy a day of netball. No representative teams are able to play in the Gala Day. Private transport will be required.

11’s Carnival Dresses: There are still some carnival dresses to be returned. Can all players please check to see if you have a dress that has not been returned? The dresses will be handed out on the day for any players who will be playing in the Orange Gala.

Friday Netball: Anyone can join in the fun of Friday netball and boys and girls do not have to be registered or play in the Saturday competition. Friday netball will be organised every week, during the semi finals through to the grand finals. Any players or teams wanting some extra practice are very welcome to come along from 5pm till 6pm.

The Forbes Netball Association (FNA) completed the 2018 representative season during the school holidays, when the 12 and 14 years representative teams competed in the Netball NSW State Age Championships.

Both teams played in Division 3 at the Eastwood Ryde netball courts, over three days of very competitive netball.

A huge thank you must go to Kristy Butler, who organised the full weekend on behalf of the parents and the teams. Thank you also to Marg Spackman, for organising all the representative uniforms, supporting the teams and laminating the tent posters.

Congratulations to players and umpires, who all displayed outstanding sportsmanship, and played and umpired to the best of their ability.

Umpires to represent the FNA were Aurella White, Hannah Staines and Karen Hargraves.

The 14 years team consisted of: Gi Gi Stitt (Captain), Lauren Bate (Vice-Captain), Ellie Flick, Ella Higgins, Elsa Cusack, Gabby White, Amy Cusack, Tilly Aveyard, Bianca Tzioumis and Leah Catzel. Also to mention Robyn Kenny (Coach), Deb Bate (Manager) and Kristy Butler (Primary Carer).

All players have made huge improvements in their standard of netball, with only half of the team previously playing in the higher Division 3, in their age group.

When the team first came together in early March, the difference in the playing standard of the girls was very noticeable but by the end of the training preparation, the less experienced players had made major improvements. This improvement continued during the three days of championships, with all players taking vital roles in their playing positions.

The girls played many exciting games and rose to the occasion, working together as a team, with all players trying their best at all times.

The wins and losses were nearly even over the three days, with the team easily holding their own, to be able to compete in the same division in 2019.

A huge thank you to all the parents who supported the team.

By Robyn Kenny

The Forbes Netball Association (FNA) 12 years representative team competed in the Netball NSW State Age Championships during the school holidays.

The team consisted of Isla Worland, Tanesha Riddle, Andie Hodder, Katie Crouch, Ella White, Ebonnie Hopley, Ava Hui, Kate Stephenson, Bella Walker and Coco Gracie, along with Felicity Worland(Manager), Juliet Hodder (Primary Carer) and a wonderful group of supportive parents.

We started our State Age games with a loss of 10 points to the eventual winners, Nambucca Valley. The girls came off the court knowing that although they had lost the game, they had played well – which set the tone for the whole competition. Day one finished with one win and a draw from five games.

Day two we played six games with having one point difference in every game (four losses and one win, except for the draw) having been down to seven players from the second last game, showing just how competitive we were.

Day three and we started off with a win and a loss, before we found ourselves down to six players due to mounting injuries. The remaining players went into overdrive and managed to come away with two wins from their last three games at State Age, earning the admiration of opposing teams and umpires.

It was an honour to coach such an outstanding group of young ladies.

By Lyn Ford

The Forbes Netball Association (FNA) is asking for nominations for end of season awards.

Each team will have one player nominated by the coach, who has shown outstanding co-operation, enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the season. The winner will be announced at the annual presentations.

Nominations for the Chris Read Memorial Award are also open. This award is for the person who has helped the committee where and whenever it is required. The winner will also be announced at the annual presentations.

The committee would also like all the winners of last year’s perpetual trophies to return them, so they can be organised for this year. Thank you.

There will be no Saturday competition this weekend, due to the start of the school holidays. The Saturday competition will commence again after the school holidays.

Under 11’s Carnival Dresses

Players who still have 11’s carnival dresses are asked to please return them to the office. There are still many dresses to be handed in. Thank you to all the players who have handed in dresses and paid their Parkes carnival costs.

The Forbes netball Saturday competition continues this weekend. Congratulations and thank you to everyone that helped raise money for The Kids Cancer Project. We managed to raise $400.00 on the day. It was great seeing everyone having fun dressing up with crazy hair and socks and for such a very worthwhile charity. Well done to all involved.

Anyone wanting to buy Forbes Netball Association (FNA) sun visors and socks can come to the office, as the order has arrived. 11’s Carnival Team.

All players who were playing in any of the 11’s carnival teams are asked to please return the FNA carnival dresses and have your name recorded on return. There may be another carnival in August but dresses will be handed out on the day to players, if a team can be entered. All players who did not pay the carnival fee of $15.00 for the Parkes carnival are also asked to pay when they return their dresses. Thank you

Canteen Duty And Ordering

All players are asked to please order their hot chips at 11:30am, so the cooking can be done while teams are still playing and parents helping in the canteen can all leave when the games are finished. Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped in the canteen.

Learning Umpires

Learning umpires are very welcome at all times. Support is given to anyone who would like to learn to umpire at Friday netball or on Saturdays. Please see the Umpire’s Convenor, Marg Spackman.

Friday Netball

Anyone can join in the fun of Friday netball from 5pm till 6pm. Boys and girls do not have to be registered or play Saturday competition to learn skills and play games. Friday netball is free to all players.

Saturday Competition

New players can still join in teams for Saturday competition and  NetSetGo.

The Forbes under 17’s representative team came home after a huge long weekend in Gosford where they competed in the NSW Netball 2018 State Championship 17/U Division 3.

The Gosford Netball Association marked the 50th hosting of the iconic championships and 96 teams from 71 associations travelled from all over NSW to participate on the Central Coast.

Held over the June long weekend annually, the NSW Netball State Championships is three days of competition bringing together elite netballers from across the state.

This year’s championship didn’t always offer agreeable weather, with one round being postponed on day two due to heavy rain and dangerous playing conditions.

Nevertheless, the Forbes team strived forward and achieved incredible results. The girls played 20 games over three days and placed 8th out of 21 on the ladder, a result which they are very pleased with.

All games were played skilfully and fought to the end, with losses being close and within only a few points of the other top teams. In total, 11 games were won and one drew.

The team’s representation both on and off the court was impeccable, with positive comments from umpires on the girls’ sportsmanship and attitude.

There was great support with many travelling to cheer the girls on from the sidelines.